When you feel dehydrated, the first thing you probably do is drink plenty of water. But did you know that IV therapy is an even faster and more effective way to stay hydrated? 

Below, we discuss the pros and cons of drinking water and taking IV fluids for hydration. 

The Importance of Drinking Water

Getting enough water is essential to keep you hydrated and maintain optimal health. Experts recommend drinking eight 8-ounce glasses of water per day, which equals about 2 liters or half a gallon. 

Sometimes your body will need more water, for example: 

• If you live in a hot climate
• If you are physically active
• If you are running a fever
• If you have diarrhea or vomiting.

Drinking water can prevent dehydration, a serious condition that can make you feel tired, lightheaded, dizzy, cause your body to overheat, and lead to muscle cramps, constipation, and kidney stones. 

But that’s not all. In addition to hydration, water may also help your body:

• Keep a normal temperature
• Remove waste through perspiration, urination, and bowel movements
• Protect your spinal cord and other sensitive tissues
• Lubricate and cushion joints
• Manage body weight and reduce calorie intake when substituted for drinks with calories
• Make your skin look good
• Reduce the risk of kidney stones
• Maintain your mental energy levels

However, drinking plain water is sometimes not sufficient because your body isn't able to absorb fluids quickly enough. Here’s how IV fluids can help you rehydrate faster.

Difference between IV Fluids and Drinking Water

IV hydration therapy is an effective way to replenish lost fluids and nutrients. Below, we list some advantages of IV hydration compared to drinking water:

Effectiveness

The water you drink gets absorbed into the walls of your small intestine before it starts rehydrating your body. This process may take a while, depending on how dehydrated you are. 

In contrast, intravenous therapy allows quick hydration. Because IV fluids completely bypass the digestive system, they are absorbed directly into your bloodstream for immediate use.

Potency

Although drinking water provides some relief from dehydration, your body may still require other nutrients to be effectively hydrated. IV hydration therapy introduces essential vitamins and minerals into your bloodstream to help restore your body’s water-electrolytes balance. 

Easy on the stomach

If you’re dehydrated and have an upset stomach, drinking water may make you queasy, bloated, and uncomfortable. IV therapy is much easier on your stomach than water since it doesn’t get absorbed into your gastrointestinal tract.

Customization

Add-ons, such as multivitamins, antioxidants, and medications, can increase the efficiency of your IV treatment. For example, adding vitamin B-12 and a combination of B vitamins to the standard IV solution for dehydration will significantly speed up your recovery. 

Can IV Fluid Replace Water?

Yes, the fluids that you receive through IV therapy are enough to keep your body hydrated and effectively ward off the adverse effects caused by dehydration. 

How Do I Know if I Need IV Fluids for Dehydration?

Although both drinking water and IV hydration have benefits for your health and well-being, drinking water is sometimes just not enough. Here are some cases when IV fluids may be a better option:

You are very dehydrated

Before deciding between plain water and IV fluids, you should first assess how dehydrated you are. 

If you simply haven’t drunk as much water as you should or you’ve had a few drinks too many, you might not need IV hydration. But if you’re exhausted after a physical activity or you can’t keep fluids down, IV therapy is probably a good idea. 

You are experiencing severe symptoms

Whether you should have an IV infusion or just drink some water depends on the severity of your dehydration symptoms. 

When you have a mild headache or feel slightly hungover, you may be able to effectively relieve your symptoms with water. However, if you’re experiencing a throbbing headache, muscle cramping, dizziness, and fatigue, IV hydration could be a more appropriate solution.

You need quick relief from dehydration

When you’re feeling just a little under the weather, having an IV therapy provider deliver treatment in your home might be too much of a bother. But if you’re exhausted and need quick relief from your symptoms, IV hydration may be just what you need.

IV Hydration Packages

Reset IV offers a wide range of packages that can help you rehydrate, whether you’re hungover, feeling sick, or want to improve your health and overall well-being. 

Fatigued/dehydrated

The Reset IV hydration package helps you effectively rehydrate with a one-liter bag of normal saline fluid, a mixture of water and sodium chloride. This solution restores a healthy balance of fluid and electrolytes in your body while boosting your energy levels.

Workout boost 

This IV fluid will give you the energy you need to perform your best and aid muscle recovery after exercising. Besides the base of normal saline, the Reset IV workout boost package contains amino acids and vitamin B12 that will keep you hydrated and help your metabolism work effectively. 

Stomach flu

The stomach flu is an intestinal infection accompanied by symptoms such as diarrhea, cramps, nausea, vomiting, and fever. In addition to normal saline, the Reset IV stomach flu package contains multivitamins, medications, and peptides that are used to treat stomach ulcers, acid reflux, and other gastrointestinal conditions.

Weight loss

Staying hydrated is particularly important when you're trying to lose weight. The Reset IV weight loss package is designed to help you rehydrate and improve metabolism so that you can easily burn those extra pounds. 

The normal saline solution can help flush your system out, reduce fluid retention, and decrease appetite, while Lipo C (M.I.C.) and vitamin B12 enable your body to break down fat more efficiently. 

Skin rejuvenation

The Reset IV skin rejuvenation package improves skin hydration while boosting circulation for a healthy glow. This IV fluid consists of a special blend of normal saline, glutathione push, and vitamin C super dose, essential for healthy-looking skin.